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Florida State, Miami rekindle rivalry with 57th meeting

Florida State and Miami aim for 4-1 records in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Andrew P Johnson photo

By Brad Milner | News Herald Writer

Published: Friday, October 19, 2012 at 05:04 PM.

The Florida State-Miami rivalry may not have the sizzle it had 10 years ago, but Saturday’s game carries much significance for both football programs.

The teams will meet for the 57th time, this occasion a 7 p.m. CDT encounter in Miami Gardens where the Seminoles have won three straight games. FSU is the lone ranked team in the matchup at No. 12 and neither team is on the immediate national title radar.

The Seminoles (6-1, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) are closer to the top having only lost once in seven games. The loss was glaring, however, as North Carolina State shocked the Seminoles 17-16 two weeks ago. Miami (4-3, 3-1) has dropped two in a row, including its first ACC defeat last week.

The teams are in opposite divisions, FSU in the Atlantic and Miami in the Coastal. A second loss won’t end all hope of a division championship and spot in the ACC Championship Game, but it will make the path much more difficult.

The fact of possibly derailing a title chase is just one of the motivating factors on both sides. The game also gives bragging rights to the victor and could sway a commitment that may be wavering between the two schools. There’s also personal pride, with several Seminoles residing in Miami and wishing to go home for the summer with some trash talk fodder.

“It’s a very important game because it does bring justification for a young man to leave Miami and come to Tallahassee and do some of those things,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “It means a lot to the people here and a lot to the players that played here. It’s always a great game.”

Fisher has more experience in the rivalry than Miami coach Al Golden, who is entering his second foray in the competitive series that has been decided by eight points or less in 11 of the last 13 meetings. That doesn’t mean Golden isn’t a quick historical study. This game is the proverbial “circled” game on the calendar and provides a measuring stick.

The Florida State-Miami rivalry may not have the sizzle it had 10 years ago, but Saturday’s game carries much significance for both football programs.

The teams will meet for the 57th time, this occasion a 7 p.m. CDT encounter in Miami Gardens where the Seminoles have won three straight games. FSU is the lone ranked team in the matchup at No. 12 and neither team is on the immediate national title radar.

The Seminoles (6-1, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) are closer to the top having only lost once in seven games. The loss was glaring, however, as North Carolina State shocked the Seminoles 17-16 two weeks ago. Miami (4-3, 3-1) has dropped two in a row, including its first ACC defeat last week.

The teams are in opposite divisions, FSU in the Atlantic and Miami in the Coastal. A second loss won’t end all hope of a division championship and spot in the ACC Championship Game, but it will make the path much more difficult.

The fact of possibly derailing a title chase is just one of the motivating factors on both sides. The game also gives bragging rights to the victor and could sway a commitment that may be wavering between the two schools. There’s also personal pride, with several Seminoles residing in Miami and wishing to go home for the summer with some trash talk fodder.

“It’s a very important game because it does bring justification for a young man to leave Miami and come to Tallahassee and do some of those things,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “It means a lot to the people here and a lot to the players that played here. It’s always a great game.”

Fisher has more experience in the rivalry than Miami coach Al Golden, who is entering his second foray in the competitive series that has been decided by eight points or less in 11 of the last 13 meetings. That doesn’t mean Golden isn’t a quick historical study. This game is the proverbial “circled” game on the calendar and provides a measuring stick.

FSU has been the more successful program in recent seasons, especially after Fisher took over as head coach in 2010. The Seminoles have played for an ACC title in that span and Miami has yet to win the Coastal Division since joining the conference in 2004.

“We should be mad that they’re up there right now. If you look at the way this rivalry has gone, it’s up to the other school to respond. I recognize that,” Golden said. “I hope we all recognize that. It’s our job to respond.

“That means player development, recruiting, whatever we need to do with resources and everything. That’s what’s made these two programs so great. We have to chase them, we have to get to where we want to be. Obviously we have an opportunity to do that Saturday night.”

Fisher said FSU takes the same tack and aims for the unofficial state championship in beating Miami and Florida in the same season. He admitted the rivalry may have lost some luster on a national level, but it doesn’t take away from the importance inside the locker rooms and everywhere between Pensacola and the Keys.

“I think it’s one of the best (rivalries) in the history of the game. This is one of the reasons you come to Florida State to play,” Fisher said. “(It has) a lot of implications in the state. It’s one of the major, major games of the year, and a huge game for us.”